STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Most can agree on the benefits behind building the world's largest Ferris wheel, a 200-room hotel and the city's first outlet mall on the waterfront in St. George. But between local unions being at odds with developers and officials still skeptical over traffic management, how the Island can arrive at that goal is an entirely different story.

"I don't want to see this project abandoned completely, but if it's built just to please tourists, then that doesn't help Staten Island," said Rep. Michael Grimm.

"Staten Island is always getting the short end of the stick and this is an opportunity to do something the right way that actually benefits the community."

On Tuesday, Grimm (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) joined with state Sen. Diane Savino and Assemblyman Matthew Titone (D-North Shore), as well as nearly 400 union workers, community leaders and members of the group Build Up NYC, in rallying on the steps of Borough Hall to demand the borough get its fair share of jobs.

Their problem lies with Don Capoccia, developer of Empire Outlets and co-manager of BFC Partners, who has been criticized for offering local unions scant job opportunities. Rich Marin, developer of the adjacent New York Wheel project, has guaranteed to build all-union.

"Why can one developer work with the unions and create good jobs and why can one not?" questioned Gary LaBarbera, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council. "Because of profits and greed. There are no real true commitments from BFC. We've been talking for months and we are nowhere."

Capoccia has said he'll dedicate a portion of the construction work for unions. Specifically, an infrastructure project totaling about $25 million will be made available to the construction trades, and subject to a Project Labor Agreement. That's roughly 10 percent of the project's estimated $250 million price tag.

"In response to the broad spectrum of economic needs in the borough, BFC has actively reached out to numerous Staten Island- based union and non-union subcontractors to insure both union and local involvement in the project," said Capoccia in an emailed statement.

"Their response has been overwhelmingly positive, and like us, they are looking forward to building this exciting and transformative project on the North Shore."

That sentiment seemed to contradict the rallying cry emanating from the sea of yellow shirts Tuesday afternoon in St. George, where chants demanding good jobs and permanent employment for union workers rang through the air outside Borough Hall.

"We're taking the position that it shouldn't be jobs that just provide a short-term economic boost for Staten Island," said Sen. Savino, "but a long-term career path which will benefit Staten Island for decades to come."

Sen. Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) noted she does not believe the union issue alone could kill the entire project, and is hopeful the City Council will vote yes on both projects when it renders its final decision on Oct. 30.

"I don't think that's (killing the projects) a possibility. We're seeing high-stakes negotiations going on right now, and I think everyone realizes that this is an opportunity that none of use want to lose."

Besides the union issue, Grimm said he still has concerns about traffic.

"You already have a bottleneck problem over there. No one has been able to explain how they're really going to alleviate the major traffic congestion. Developers have not satisfied me or Community Board 1."

Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore), whose district would house the twin projects, did not respond to a request for comment.